How to Cut 9 & 12 Inch Quilt Blocks

Quilting is a hobby with a long, rich history of providing beautiful handmade quilts, either for practical or decorative use. Putting together a quilt can be a rewarding experience as you can anticipate that the finished project will be well-loved and passed down for generations. Any basic quilting project will begin with cutting out the squares, or other shapes, that you use to sew your blanket. The following instructions cover cutting out simple blocks of nine or 12 inches.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric Rotary cutter Rotary cutting ruler Cutting mat

Instructions

Cutting Fabric Blocks

1. Lay your fabric flat on the cutting mat. Make sure that the weave of the fabric is even with the grid lines on the mat. The weave of your finished square should run straight across, not at an angle.

2. Measure the appropriate width for your block. You will need to add the appropriate seam allowance for your project. A 1/4-inch seam allowance is fairly standard, but you may want to allow 1/2 inch if this is your first project and you want to leave room for error. Add this width allowance on all sides of the square, so that you have a 9 1/2 or 12 1/2-inch square if you are working with a 1/4-inch seam allowance or a 10- or 13-inch square if you are working with a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

3. Line your rotary cutting ruler up with the lines on your cutting mat. Roll the rotary cutter along the fabric, flush against the ruler to make a perfectly straight cut. Repeat on all four sides to make a square.

4. Once you have established the size and shape of your block, you can fold the fabric so that you are cutting several squares at once. This will ensure that each square is exactly the same size.

Tips & Warnings

• The extra fabric should lay to your right if you are right-handed and to your left if you are left-handed. Always roll the rotary cutter away from your body as you are cutting.

• When folding the fabric for multiple squares, make sure each layer is perfectly flat.

Resources

• Rotary Fabric Cutters and Cutting Mats
• Free Quilt Patterns